Digitial Newspaper Web sites drew 113 million unique visitors per month in the first quarter of 2012. That correlates to a 4.4% increase from the first quarter of 2011. The study was done by comScore data and was cited by the Newspaper Association of America.

The total number of minutes spent on newspaper Web sites increased by 6.9%, according to the same study. Over this period, the number of page views increased 1.4%. The average number of visits per user was 9.77 per month, thus showing that digital newspaper users are regular users that will benefit from consistent frequency.

Newspapers have to be pleased with the demographics of their users. The number of average daily visitors in the 18-to-24 age group increased 10% and the number of visitors in the 21 to 34 age group increased by 7% over the same period. Of 18 to 34-year-olds, 48% said they read only digital newspaper content, and another 34% said they read both print and digital newspapers, while just 24% who said they read only print newspapers.

Advanced Telecom Services provides its MatchLink online dating solution to newspapers. With MatchLink, a digital newspaper can relive some of the glory days of newspaper personals with a customized website with the look and feel of the newspaper, but with the power of the Match.com database behind it. Advanced Telecom Services is one of only two companies in the nation to be able to provide a custom online dating solution in conjunction with Match.com.

Over 2/3 of all cell phones sold in 2012 have been smartphones. Hence, smartphone penetration has now exceeded 50% in the USA. While Android is the dominant smartphone OS, Apple’s iPhone sales continue to flourish.

Apple soared past analysts’ expectations, reporting on Tuesday a nearly 60% increase in sales and a 94% rise in profits in its fiscal second quarter compared with a year earlier. The company sold 35.1 million iPhones, many of them in China, where sales leaped by 400%. Analysts had feared lower-priced rivals would eat into iPhone sales, but the report “shows they are able to maintain their pricing without compromising on growth,” said Michael Holt, a Morningstar analyst. Sales of iPads grew 151% to 11.8 million units. Verizon Wireless and AT&T together sold 7.5 million iPhones and are prospering from data services sold through the smartphone.

14% of Americans showed a preference for shopping on a mobile website via their smartphone. 9% prefer shopping on a mobile website via a tablet. 4% each prefer shopping on an app on a tablet and the same on a smartphone.

Android’s stranglehold on the USA smartphone market continues to increase. Of American smartphone owners, over half now own an Android device. A full 2/3 of all purchases of mobile phones made in the first two months of 2012 were smartphones.

Mobile websites, or “mobile microsites” as we like to call them, can be created for 85% less than a mobile app, but nearly all of the same features. In many instances, a company should consider developing a mobile app rather than a more expensive app. There are significant advantages to developing a mobile app in addition to simply the cost.

Now, we have nothing against apps. In fact, we love apps. Check out this article about our apps we developed for Comcast.

Watch Bob Bentz’s video and you’ll learn more about when you should use a mobile website versus a mobile app.